The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-09-03
DEMOCRACY ARRAIGNRD.
Mr.. Cowan speech. Delivered Before the
Republican State Convention III Ralti-
more, August 2iuh, 1887.

Republican State Convention III Eaiti-
more, August 2irh, 1887.
Mr.. Cowan said: II sou will kindly
bear with me one moment, unit recover
myself entirely as have not yet fully
recovered from recent sickness, | think
my voice Will be heard in the furthest
corner of the + 'om.
Il presume | am today great deal in
the condition of L witness whom | once
upon time got to testify in a roadway
case for the railroad company for which
am counsel. 1t was the well-known Ross
Winans. the elder Winaus new deceased.
The railroad had occasion to acquire some
additional roadway between this city and
the Niaduct Hotel and those of you who
are farmers know how soon undiscovered
beauties spring up in real estate the mo-
ment a railroad company wishes it for its
right of way. The land seemed to have
grown in price until | thought instead of
being in Baltimore county | was con-
demning some ground that belonged to
| the Wander bits on Fifth avenue, New
| York thought | would go, therefore,
to Mr.. Winans. vino owned property in
the same locality and get from him can
did statement of what Was the real value
of the property. When | informed him
| OF the matter he asked me if | did not
want to know what lie would say. | said
| NO; am willing to pay exactly what the
| Land is worth He replied that he did
not think lawyer ought to put a witness
on the stand until he knew what the wit
ness vas going to say. Then | asked him
what lie thought the property was worth?
Not d d-n, sir, he replied. Laughter. J
81 suppose today that am placed upon
the stand by my Republican friends as an
Independent Democrat, as sort of ex-
pert witness aughter]-to give an ex-
pert's opinion as to the value of the Dem
ocratic promises of election reform under
its present management. Laughter.
lou have paid me the compliment of not
asking me what my opinion would be be-
forehand but, although the language is
not parliamentary, | must reply in the
language of Mr.. Winans-that it is not
worth d-n, sir-[applause land |
shall take occasion before this campaign
ends to state my reasons for saying SO.
at is curious for an independently Dem
ocrat to be addressing convention of his
Republican fellow citizens, but | want to
say for myself and for a large body of in
dependent reform Democrats that we
propose to support out and out the Re-
publican stste ticket as it has been nomi-
na'ed.'
Here the speaker was interrupted by
cheering and shouting in the loudest
m ,uner, which lasted several second S.
Upon quiet being restored he proceeded as
follows:
In due time | shall give plenty of rea-
sons for the faith that is in me, and
others will do the same. | know two of
tue gentlemen on your ticket we'll. The
head of the ticket is a gentlemen with
whom today have the most serious liti-
CATION with which the company am
connected has to contend with. | testify
my confidence in his fairness as a politi-
cal candidate by announcing my intention
to support him today. Great applause.
Now the Democratic party-the reg
ular Democratic party, as they love to
style themselves under the present man.
agement-has had its meeting, announced
its platform and put its ticket into the
field. Personally against the gentlemen
who are upon that ticket you will not
hear me say much, unless during the pro-
gress of the campaign they shall pay
their respects to me in way which do
not approve. Laughter. But it is the
issue which is represented by the two
parties. The state issue upon which |
shall plant myself, and planting myself,
| shall with as much enthusiasm engage
in the support of the Republican ticket.
Long and continued cheering. l shall
fling down the gage of battle and trip
gaily to the fray
The regular Democratic party has
announced, after it has been pressed by
the Grand Jury, by criminal trial, by
public meeting, and in every shape and
form, in its platform that it is in favor of
the Tilden election law, with modifica-
tions adapted to Maryland. Laughter.
The third plank in its platform is the
spois system pure and simple. l under
stand that in the platform you have an
nounced today you have planted your
selves squarely upon the Reform League
election law, for annual registration and
for civil service reform. On these state
issues am willing to 90 to my Demo-
cratic fellow citizens and ask them to
support the Republicans and to help elect
that ticket. Applause. | have no faith
in the promises of the regular Democratic
party. They have promised us reform
for II years. Mr.. German, its manager,
who in 1879, from Barnum's Hotel, Or
ganized the plan which the ballot boxes
of this city were looted, and Mr.. Rasin
was his chief lieutenant. 1t was Mr..
German who brought Mr.. Higgins to
Howard county in 1879, and this is the
man who promises reform! This party
also promised the Tilden election law
after the frauds of 1915, and also in 1879
and in 1882 with that law put squrely be-
fore them they spurned it. Can we rely
upon their promises now?'
Mr.. Cowan then told the biblical story
of the Gibeonites who went to meet
Joshua and stocked themselves with old
clothes and mouldy bread as a peace-of
fering. These he compared to the Dem
ocratic party, and said that the people
were not to be fooled in any such way.
In regard to any of the good things the
Democrats had done he proposed to turn
that matter over to microscopes and
get scientific answer. He believed the
only way to reform that party was with
a club. He then related that portion of
Mark Twain story of IIuckle berry Firm,
where an old judge thought he could re-
form Iuckleberry Firms father, who
was drunkard. He took him home, but
the second day the old man got drunk,
spewed up all over the floor and fell out
of the second-story window and broke his
arm. The judge then remarked that the
only Way to reform that ere nm was with